Outsourcing Duty

Are contemporary soldiers exploited by the state and society which they defend? More specifically, have America's professional service members been uniquely exploited insofar as they have disproportionately carried the moral weight of America's collective war-fighting decisions since the inception of the all-volunteer force post-Vietnam and particularly since 9/11? In this work, Michael Robillard and Bradley Strawser argue that many of American soldiers have indeed been exploited in this unique way. By offering their original normative theory of 'moral exploitation'; the notion that persons or groups can be wrongfully exploited by being made to shoulder an excessive amount of moral responsibility, moral risk, and exposure to 'dirty hands', Robillard andStrawser make the case that such a state of affairs indeed describes America's present relationship with her military. By offering a thorough and in-depth analysis of some of the exploitative and misleading elements of present-day military recruitment, the pernicious civil-military divide existing between military members and the civilian principle both within the organs of government and the public at large, and the stifling effect that 'Thank You for Your Service', 'I support the troops' culture has had on serious public engagement concerning America's ongoing wars, Robillard and Strawser offer a tour de force of eye-opening arguments on the demoralizing state of affairs for the American soldier. They conclude by arguing for several normative and prudential prescriptions to help close this ever-widening fissure existing between America and its military and existing within America herself. In so doing, their work gives a much needed and urgent voice to America's other 1%--